Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsadim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsadim’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense golden yellow-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybridacultivar Zalsadim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsadim’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeriacultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flowercolors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 1998 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 93547-004, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybridaselection identified as 97915-004PN, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by theInventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, TheNetherlands in 1999.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in acontrolled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since August, 1999,has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zalsadium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsadim’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsadim’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Intense golden yellow-colored flowers.    -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were taller than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Stems of plants of the new Alstroemeria were green in color        whereas stems of plants of the male parent selection were green        with reddish overtones.    -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had golden yellow-colored        flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection had pale        yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Stajello, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differedfrom plants of the cultivar Stajello in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of        the cultivar Stajello.    -   2. Stems of plants of the new Alstroemeria were green in color        whereas stems of plants of the cultivar Stajello were green with        reddish overtones.    -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the cultivar Stajello        differed in flower bud coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringstem of ‘Zalsadim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown inRijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in groundbeds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from15 to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. and lightlevels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph anddescription were about one year-old. The photograph and the descriptionwere taken during August and September. Color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsadim.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection            identified as 93547-004, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida            identified as 97915-004PN, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to            155D, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color:            Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.            Vigorous growth habit.        -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90            days.        -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 220 to            240.        -   Plant height.—About 1.5 to 2 meters.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 20 to 30 cm.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            1.25 to 1.75 meters. Diameter: About 6 to 8 mm. Internode            length: About 2 to 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Glabrous. Color: Close to 144B to 144C; glossy.        -   Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length:            About 14 to 20 cm. Width: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm. Shape: Linear            to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fully            developed foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A; slightly            glossy. Developing and fully developed foliage, lower            surface: Close to 137C. Venation: Upper surface, close to            137A; lower surface, close to 137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and            continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the            spring in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.        -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 20 to 25 days.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm.            Diameter: About 1 to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:            Greenish yellow.        -   Umbel height.—About 12 to 16 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 21 to 28 cm.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 20.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7 to 8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 to 6 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 to 6.5 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size: inner            perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 7 to 7.5 cm.            Length, median segment: About 5 to 6 cm. Width, lateral and            median segments: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Size, outer perianth:            Length, lateral and median segments: About 6 to 7 cm. Width,            lateral and median segments: About 3 to 4 cm. Shape, inner            perianth, lateral and median segments: Oblanceolate. Shape,            outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Obovate. Apex,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Acute. Apex,            outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Bracket-shaped.            Base, inner and outer perianths, lateral and median            segments: Attenuate. Margin, inner and outer perianths,            lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly undulate.            Texture, inner and outer perianths, lateral and median            segments: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, inner perianth:            When opening and fully opened, lateral and median segments,            upper surface: Close to 13A to 13B; stripes, purplish close            to 187A; tip, whitish close to 155D. When opening and fully            opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Close to 13A to            13B. When opening and fully opened, median segment, lower            surface: Close to 13A. Color, outer perianth: When opening            and fully opened, lateral and median segments, upper            surface: Close to 13A to 13B; apex, greenish. When opening            and fully opened, lateral and median segments, lower            surface: Close to 13A to 13B; apex and venation, greenish.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 to 9 cm. Diameter: About 3 to            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 50° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 50° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 9 mm. Anther            diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 152D. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 152C. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 4.5 to 5 cm.            Style color: White to yellow. Stigma color: Whitish yellow.            Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemerias.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsadim’, as illustrated and described. 